Racing News: May 8 Morning Report

Questions Arise Over How Pennsylvania Man Qualified for BostonMike Rossi took his children out of school for a trip that included his participation in the Boston Marathon. He became an internet sensation when he wrote a Facebook response about the kids' unexcused school absence. Public opinion was divided on the matter, often vehemently so. With Rossi’s notoriety comes added scrutiny of his race results, and now there are doubts about the legitimacy of the qualifying time that got him into Boston. More[4]

Jared Ward and Sara Hall Top USATF 25K FieldsWard became the USA Marathon champion in Los Angeles this winter and Hall was the first American woman finisher at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships. They’ll be in the USATF 25K in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday. Ward will go up against Matt Llano, Christo Landry, and Abdi Abdirahman. Hall’s rivals include Heather Capello, Katie DiCamillo, and Lindsey Scherf. More[5]

Flanagan and Gebremariam Are Peachtree CupCaptainsThe inaugural Peachtree Cup competition at Atlanta's Peachtree Road Race 10K on July 4 involves teams of three men and three women from the U.S., Africa, Europe, and Asia. Shalane Flanagan, who was a 2008 Olympic 10,000-meter bronze medalist and has the American women’s 10,000 record of 30:22.22, will captain the American squad. Gebre Gebremariam, Ethiopia’s 2009 World Cross Country champion and 2010 New York City Marathon winner, leads the Africa team. More[6]

Marathons Hurt More Than Runners RememberThough many runners say “never again” after completing a 26.2-miler, a new study shows that few of them dwelled on the painful part of the experience three months later—and even fewer did so six months after. The conclusion is that “pain induced by running a marathon is not remembered accurately.” More[7]

Who Is Boris Berian, the Top U.S. 800-Meter Runner of 2015?Berian, an NCAA Division II champion while at Adams State, clocked a 1:45.30 for the 800 at last Saturday’s Payton Jordan Invitational and leads the list of American men with World Championships “A” qualifying times for the distance. As Flotrack[8] reports, Berian raced just a few times in 2013 and 2014 but his fortunes changed when he joined California’s Big Bear Track Club and Coach Carlos Handler, the husband of Brenda Martinez. More[8]

Cal’s Thomas Joyce Is Undefeated in Seven Races This SpringThe junior has earned four PRs in 2015, including a 3:39.43 for 1500 meters and 13:34.42 for 5000. Joyce, whose mother made him go out for cross country in high school, is happy that one of the staples of Cal’s program is “developing elite closing speed, because that’s typically what will win you a race.” More[9]

Stopwatch That Timed Bannister's Historic Mile up for AuctionOne of five watches used by timekeepers for Roger Bannister’s epochal 3:59.4 on May 6, 1954 in Oxford, England, is being auctioned by Sotheby’s on May 18. It comes with a program of the day’s track action, signed by Bannister, and is expected to fetch a bid of more than $12,000, according to the BBC. More [10]

Centrowitz Tries 800 at Oregon Twilight MeetMatthew Centrowitz is a two-time World Championships 1500-meter medalist but at today’s Oregon Twilight meet in Eugene, he’ll test his speed at the 800. Alexi Pappas and Geena Gall will be in the women’s 1500 and Patrick Casey, Mac Fleet, Jordan McNamara, and Johnny Gregorek are in the men’s 1000. More[11]